App launch overview

Depending on the type of app you are launching, the process involves publishing the app and, for public apps, listing it on the TikTok Shop (TTS) App and Service Store.

• Publishing your app is the act of going live, or changing your app's status from draft to active.
• Listing your app is the act of making it available on the TTS App and Service Store for sellers in your target market to discover and use.

The launch requirements differ based on whether you are working with a public app or a custom app. Public apps always require listing and review steps before launch. Custom apps are not listed publicly, but they may still require registration review, compliance review, app review, and beta testing depending on the app category, target market, and authorization scale.

Discoverability of your app on the App & Service Store depends on three key factors:

• App type: Only public apps are discoverable on the App & Service Store. Custom apps are distributed privately through an authorization link.
• Seller type: Local-to-local sellers operate in the same local market as the app's target market. Cross-border sellers sell across markets, such as global sellers serving multiple destination markets. Check the seller type you selected in Partner Center under the app's target seller and market settings.
• Market availability: An app is available only to sellers in the markets where the app has passed the required listing and review steps.

Image Once you submit the basic information for your public app in Partner Center and establish your workspace, you must meet the following prerequisites before you can publish and list your app:

1. Pass the registration review.
2. Complete and submit the language listing form for each market where you intend to publish your app, and pass the listing review for each market.
3. Initiate and complete the app review process, where we assess whether your app meets the requirements outlined in the App Requirement Document (ARD). Apps in the Connector category also require beta testing.
4. Pass the compliance and legal review before launch.

If you have not initiated the compliance and legal review process, or if you are not sure whether your market requires an additional compliance step, contact the Partner Development & Management team for your market:

• US: partner.us@tiktokshop.com
• UK: partner.uk@tiktokshop.com
• Other: partner@tiktokshop.com

Learn more: Refer to Publish and list a public App for information on how to launch your public app.

Image Once you submit the basic information for your custom app in Partner Center and establish your workspace, complete the required custom-app prerequisites before publishing. Custom apps are not publicly available on the TTS App and Service Store, so you do not need to provide public listing information. Instead, you distribute the app privately by sharing its authorization link with eligible sellers. Before publishing a custom app:

1. Pass the registration review.
2. Complete any required compliance and legal review for your category, market, and app scope.
3. Complete app review and beta testing if your app falls under the Connector category.
4. Complete app review if your app reaches 25 or more seller authorizations.
5. Confirm that the app is ready to distribute by authorization link.

Some custom apps, such as seller-developed apps or custom solutions for a single seller, may not require app review or beta testing. Review requirements depend on your app category, target market, and authorization scale. Learn more: Refer to Publish a Custom App for information on how to publish your custom app or convert a custom app to a public app.

Continue to Publish and list a public App or Publish a Custom App, depending on the app type you are launching.